Opinion

The Middle East has long been a region full of turmoil and instability. It’s an area that the United States has a special interest in, whether it is our steadfast support for Israel or ensuring energy supplies are delivered out of the Middle East to avoid fuel and energy shortages. Over the past few weeks, several elections have occurred in the Middle East that could be indicators of how the region feels toward the United States.

French philosopher Marquise Magdeleine de Sablé once said, “Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves more impudently ungrateful for favors that they do not wish to acknowledge.”

As a columnist, I feel my job is more than to entertain. It’s also to pinpoint things in hopes to make life a little more better and understandable.

We recently commemorated Memorial Day in honor of our brave men and women who fought and died for our freedom.

As I watched the flags of each branch of our armed services hoisted and lowered to half-mast at the War Memorial at our local courthouse and listened to each theme song played for each one, I got cold chills as Taps was played for our fallen soldiers.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a very bipartisan person; a “to each his own“type of individual. I am someone who doesn’t require my readers to believe exactly how I believe or tell my readers they have to agree with without exception.

However, I feel as though I have a responsibility to my readers to help enlighten them and teach them how to look at their world as being a little bit more tolerable than what they’re used to. Also, when something touches me in such a profound way, it makes me want to share it with everyone.

It’s finally here: the end of yet another year of school in all its glory.

I remember fondly the excitement that generated from summer vacation drawing near. I’d get to sleep in and go to bed a little later than usual, go to a relative’s house that had a swimming pool, washing away all the summertime blues, and let’s not forget the anticipation surrounding Fourth of July festivities.

President Barrack Obama is promoting the passage of an international arms control treaty entitled, the “Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing Of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials, or CIFTA. It was originally signed by President Bill Clinton, but never ratified by the GOP-controlled Senate. Now, presumably, with a friendlier Democrat Senate to work with the passage of this assault upon the Second Amendment appears ready to go forward.

I write this to you whole-heartedly wishing you nothing but a bright and successful future. As you start living in the real world that often appears so big, almost too big sometimes. Allow me to share with you these pearls of wisdom that I pray will help you in certain areas of your young adult lives.

These were the words of our new president recently in Turkey. Obama made a similar statement in an email response to CBN's David Brody in 2007: “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation.” Whatever we once were?

Patrick Henry, the “give me liberty or give me death guy” said, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

This past week, I was walking through the woods. There’s nothing in my opinion more peaceful than the outdoors. Trust me, if you ever want to leave the real world behind, take a trip into the realms of nature and explore God’s great big universe.

I walked deeper into the woods and noticed a tree standing from a distance. It was beautiful and appeared so full of life. However, it wasn’t until I got closer to it that I began to see the flaws and imperfections it previously had.

You may be someone who has given birth, or may have assumed the role of mother in another way.

Just the same, you are God’s love in expression. No matter how old you are, where you are, or who the children are who need you, always be ready to give the reassurance and encouragement, to dry their tears, and to listen to their stories and their discoveries.

No, I’m not trying to attract more of a reading audience through colorful phrases and quirky puns. This week’s story is one that is designated for those who either live with uncontrollable guilt placed by someone else or by themselves.

William Shakespeare once said it best, “What’s done cannot be undone.”

How true that is, indeed!

Do you have anything in your life that you wish you could do over again?